Boiling hot water
with craploads of chamomile, fresh+dried if you can get it (My Dad grows loads in the garden. Teabags are ok, but not as effective/strong)

Towel over head, breath in the steam for half an hour.

Seems to have an anesthetic effect on the throat and lungs, as well as relaxing the mind a little. Don't know if it will help for more than a few minutes after you finish with the steam but it's def worth a go.
(MrOli is ugly, but in the morning you will be sober, Mon 8 Jun 2009, 12:58, Reply)